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U.S. public vehicle records

Cadillac SEVILLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

621 owner complaints analyzed

31 distinct recall campaigns

83,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1976 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 257 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 621 complaints (8.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior9214.8%
Braking behavior6811.0%
Engine operation558.9%
Electrical and battery issues386.1%
Transmission and shifting223.5%
Fuel system concerns213.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
52
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
42
Electrical System
38
Engine And Engine Cooling
30
Suspension
28
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
27
Steering
24
Air Bags:Frontal
22
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline52
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine42
Electrical System38
Engine And Engine Cooling30
Suspension28
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings27
Steering24
Air Bags:Frontal22

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 52; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 42; Electrical System: 38; Engine And Engine Cooling: 30; Suspension: 28; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 27; Steering: 24; Air Bags:Frontal: 22

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
25
25,000 to 49,999
38
50,000 to 74,999
41
75,000 to 99,999
60
100,000 to 149,999
66
150,000 and above
27
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00025
25,000 to 49,99938
50,000 to 74,99941
75,000 to 99,99960
100,000 to 149,99966
150,000 and above27

Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 38; 50,000 to 74,999: 41; 75,000 to 99,999: 60; 100,000 to 149,999: 66; 150,000 and above: 27

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (66). 364 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
42
1996
22
2000
72
2001
58
2002
73
2003
64
2004
75
2005
42
2006
21
2007
20
2008
21
2009
14
2010
13
2011
8
2012
20
2013
3
2014
24
2015
3
2016
7
2017
5
2018
4
2019
2
2020
1
2021
4
2022
2
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199542
199622
200072
200158
200273
200364
200475
200542
200621
200720
200821
200914
201013
20118
201220
20133
201424
20153
20167
20175
20184
20192
20201
20214
20222
20231

1995: 42; 1996: 22; 2000: 72; 2001: 58; 2002: 73; 2003: 64; 2004: 75; 2005: 42; 2006: 21; 2007: 20; 2008: 21; 2009: 14; 2010: 13; 2011: 8; 2012: 20; 2013: 3; 2014: 24; 2015: 3; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 92 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 68 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 55 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 486849 · 1995-06-06 (June 6, 1995)

POWER STEERING FAILED. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486849 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484193 · 1995-07-17 (July 17, 1995)

WORN STEERING GEAR. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484193 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484897 · 1995-08-12 (August 12, 1995)

EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED DURING ABOVE ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489564 · 1995-04-28 (April 28, 1995)

BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED TO ALLEVIATE A VIBRATION CONDITION.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489564 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503838 · 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503838 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 971908 · 1995-09-09 (September 9, 1995)

CONSUMER HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN MY CAR CAR IS NOT WORKING RIGHT WHEN AT LIGHT START TO MOVE CAR STALLS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971908 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985352 · 1996-06-06 (June 6, 1996)

VEHICLE STALLS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSES CAR TO SHUT DOWN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985352 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 873943 · 2000-10-26 (October 26, 2000)

VEHCILE WOULD INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC UNHOOKED CABLE TO THE IDLE SPEED MONITOR TO KEEP FROM ACCELERATING. VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO CUT OFF, BATTERY INDICATOR READ LOW. CONSUMER GOT A JUMP, FOUND OUT ITWAS FINE & CAR WAS FLOODING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873943 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 721249 · 2000-04-10 (April 10, 2000)

RADIATOR FAILURE CAUSING COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID TO MIX. AS A RESULT WATER GOT INTO TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721249 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 717968 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)

OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING.....THERES BEEN A SERVICE BULLITEN ALERT PUT OUT ON THIS IN FEB. 1996. MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 1997 AND THE GASKET SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. OIL IS LEAKING FAIRLY BAD AND I WAS INFORMED BY CADILLAC MECHANIC THAT THE OIL GOING BACK ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CAD. CONVERTER COULD CAUGHT FIRE. I'M TRYING TO GET CADALLIC TO REPLACE THIS GASKET AT THEIR COST. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $1500.00 TO REPLACE THIS $28.00 PART. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717968 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10174838 · 2006-11-30 (November 30, 2006)

I HAVE A 1985 CADILLAC STS WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE AT ALL TIMES AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE IT AT MY MECHANIC'S AS I WRITE THIS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HORRIFIC GAS SMELL I WAS EXPERIENCING IS A BIG PROBLEM. ACTUALLY, IT SUPPOSEDLY WAS A RECALL ON THE TUBING/FUEL LINES. I CALLED THE GM [phone removed] PHONE NUMBER ABOUT THE RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THIS RECALL. I NEVER GOT ONE....I ALSO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174838 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 986810 · 1996-07-10 (July 10, 1996)

WHILE PULLING OUT OF GARAGE CONSUMER HEARD A POP AND CHECKED AND THE GAS TANK RUPTURED. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986810 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1988
0
1989
1
1990
2
1991
0
1992
1
1993
2
1994
2
1995
2
1996
2
1997
2
1998
2
1999
1
2000
2
2001
1
2002
2
2003
1
2004
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19880
19891
19902
19910
19921
19932
19942
19952
19962
19972
19982
19991
20002
20011
20022
20031
20040

1988: 0; 1989: 1; 1990: 2; 1991: 0; 1992: 1; 1993: 2; 1994: 2; 1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1997: 2; 1998: 2; 1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 0

Year-by-year records

Cadillac SEVILLE model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197601Not available
197710-1
197812+2
197910-2
198001+1
198102+1
198203+1
198322-1
198401-1
1985410
198682+1
198761-1
198840-1
198931+1
1990102+1
1991140-2
1992161+1
1993282+1
19944020
19956720
19967020
19977120
19985120
1999631-1
2000382+1
2001531-1
2002452+1
2003161-1
200490-1